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(No Model.)

G. L. EASON.

(JOLLAPSIBLB FLYING TARGET. N0. 3 1L463. D Patented May 11 1886.

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I UNITED STATES enonen L. EASON, on DES MOINES,

IOVA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO ROBERT FULLERTON, OF SAME PLACE.

COLLAPSIBLE FLYING TARGET.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent NO. 341,463, dated. Inlay 11, 1886.

Application filed March 8, 1886. Serial No. 194,461. (No model.)

To osZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, GEORGE L. EASON, a citizen of the United States of Ainerica,and a resident of Des Moincs, in the county of Polk and State of Iowa, have invented a Collapsible and Indestructible Flying Target,of which the following is a specification.

My object is to provide a neat, light, strong, and durable target that can be readily projected from a trap to sail gracefully through the air, and that will instantly collapse and flutter and fall when struck by one or more shot, and that can be readily readjusted to be used repeatedly.

My invention consists in the construction and combination of a rigid metal frame and hinged wings, as hereinafter set forth, pointed out in my claims, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is atop viewshowing the complete device ready for use. Fig. 2 is a perspective view of a half-section. Fig. 3 is a top view showing the wings distended, as occurs when the target is fluttering and falling. Fig. 4 is an enlarged sectional view .of the frame and one of the wings having its top and bottom caught and fastened to the frame.

A represents a flat frame, preferably made complete in one piece by stamping it from sheet-steel. It may vary in size and shape as desired. lt is provided with fanshaped projections B at its corners, or, if circular, at one or more points at its edge, which projections serve as a means for connecting the complete device with a target-trap, as required in projecting it into the air from a trap.

c are shoulders in the ends of the horizontal projections, and d are studs or pins projecting vertically, to aid in securing the complete device in a trap. The form of the projection must necessarily vary to suit traps of different forms.

F represents a frame made of a flat steel plate of cruciform shape, having the central portions of its arms F bent into V shape, and into an angle of about forty-five degrees relative to its center, and their free flat ends then fixed to the corners of the square frame A by riveting, or in any suitable way.

Nos. 1 2 3 4 are wings cut from sheet-steel and provided with finsg, that are formed by bending the plate double, or by making them separately and fixing them thereto by means of rivets, or in any suitable way, to serve as a means of fastening the wings to the skeleton frame, and also to project outward at right angles to catch glancing shot. and thus increase the surface of the complete target and the liability of having one or more of the wings struck by the shot, as required to produce a collapse and fall. Each wing is flexibly connected with the frame by means of a ring, h, or in any suitable way that will allow the wing to fly and flutter outside ofthe frame, as shown in Fig. 3.

To adjust a wing as required for practical use, I project the bottom edge down inside of the frame A, so that the end of the tin y will engage the inner top edge thereof,.and then press the top end of the tin upward and outward relative to the center of the cruciform frame F, to wedge it fast to the edge of the center of the cruciform frame, and to allow the top and pointed end of the wing t-oproject under the same edge, as clearly shown in Fig. 4. \Vhen all the wings are thus fastened in the skeleton frame, the target is ready to be sprung from a trap in a common way, as required to causcit to rise and rotate in the air, a conspicuous mark for the sportsman to fire at; and when any one of the wings is hit by one or more shot on their top and upwardlyinclined surfaces, the force of the blow will loosen it at the center'of the cruciform frame and allow it to drop and fly outward by contrifugal force, as represented in Fig. 3. When one or more shot strikes any portion of the skeleton frame, the concussion produced will loosen the wings, as required to produce a collapse and a fluttering and fall.

By readjusting the wings after the target has been hit and collapsed, it can be used again and the operation repeated as often as desired.

I am aware that a cup shaped or conical airtight flying target has had a wing hinged to its edge or circumference in such a manner that the wing could be detachably connected with an annular bead on the inside of the closed cone by means of cement and detached by the concussion occasioned by shot striking the target, to drop and indicate that the target was hit; but combining wings with askeleton frame to produce a closed cone-shaped target that will collapse and open and allow air to pass through the target when the wings are displaced by the striking of shot, to arrest the flying motion of the target and to cause it to flutter and fall, is novel and great- 1y advantageous.

I claim as my invention- 1. A flying-target frame of skeleton form, having a raised center and a series of wings flexibly connected with the outside bars or rim of the frame, to operate in the manner set forth.

2. A flying target composed of a flat metal rim and an arched skeleton center, and a series of wings fitted in the open spaces of the skeleton and hinged to the rim, and provided with catch devices to detachabl y connect them with the central portion of the frame, for the purposes stated.

8. The combination of the flat angular frame A, having outward projections B at its corners, the arched skeleton frame F F the flat plates or Wings 1 2 3 4, having fins and fastening devices g, fitted in the openings of the complete skeleton frame, and the rings h, for the purposes stated.

4. A flying target composed of a skeleton metal frame having a raised center and oneor more outward extensions at its outer edge, and a series of metal plates or wings flexibly connected with the outer portion or rim of the frame, and provided with catch devices to engage the raised central portion of the frame, for the purposes specified.

GEORGE L. EASON.

\Vitnesses: v

F. E. REED, THOMAS G. ORWIG. 

